There are two kinds of turnovers. One is a delectable pastry filled with sweetened fruit filling--perhaps apple or cherry. That kind of turnover tickles the taste buds and satisfies the urge for sweets. The second kind of turnover isn't so sweet. It causes consternation and gnashing of teeth, not to mention untold anxiety. The latter turnover occurs in athletic contests, specifically football and basketball. Since this is an article about a basketball game, the reference to turnover obviously has to do with basketball.

In basketball a turnover refers to the basketball being turned over to the opposing team. This may occur because of a violation, such as a double dribble or a traveling violation. That kind of turnover is a cause for concern, but not nearly so much as the turnover that is the result of an errant pass or a dropped pass that winds up in the hands of one's opponent. That kind of turnover not only is a source of concern, but may cause ulcers for fans and turn coaches' hair prematurely gray.

The ACGC girls' basketball team is averaging about twenty turnovers a game. My recollection is that fifteen turnovers is a reasonable number for a high school girls' team to commit. Last night the Charger girls established a season high when they committed thirty one turnovers in their 44-34 win over Pleasantville on the Trojans home floor. Fortunately for the Chargers, the Trojans didn't capitalize on the opportunities to pile up the points off of the turnovers and were held to ten points resulting from turnovers.

The game was nip and tuck through three quarters, largely due to scoring droughts for the Chargers--three minute droughts in both the first and second quarters. Pleasantville had its own dry spell in the second quarter, netting just two free throws over the last three plus minutes before the intermission. The Chargers held a slim 20-18 lead at the break.

Neither team could put together a run in the third quarter as the Chargers held on to the two point lead at 30-38. Chloe Largent scored six of her game high fifteen points in the third frame and Jaden Carrick added the other four Charger scores to maintain the two point margin at 30-28.

The Charger defense came through in the fourth quarter, holding the Trojans without a point for the first four minutes while the offense went on a 7-0 run during the same time span. Pleasant-

ville connected on only one of its twelve field goal attempts in the the final stanza. Chelsea Larsen, Savana Fuller, Carrick, and Largent all scored during that 7-0 run that clinched the win for ACGC.

So, despite the turnovers the Chargers showed some real grit in hanging in there through three fourths of the game and finally putting the game away in the last eight minutes of play. The win improves the team's overall record to 8-6 and 6-4 in WCAC play, good enough for fourth place in the league standings. Interestingly, the conference statistics bear out the fourth place spot for ACGC. The Chargers are fourth in points per game at 41.3, field goal percentage at 38.3%, and three point percentage at 28.1% (despite going 0-12 last night). Free throw percentage, however, is just above 50% at 50.4% which places the team in a tie for ninth.

In addition to Largent's 15 points, Carrick also made double figures with 13. Carrick nearly had a double-double as she came away with 9 rebounds, five of which were offensive boards. The team totaled a healthy 16 assists, led by Jorja Hoover and Kylie Young with 4 each. Young also was credited with 3 blocked shots. "G" Hoover had 6 of the 14 Charger steals. The team made 20 of its 50 shot attempts, good for 40%, with two point shootng at 53% on 20 makes out of 38 tries. Free throw shooting was just 50% with 4 of 8 successful attempts. The team came up with a total of 20 offensive rebounds, led by Carrick's 5.

Next up for the local girls is a home tilt with Ogden on Tuesday, January 15. Game time is 6 PM with the boys' game to follow. Go Chargers!

Score by quarter:

ACGC 10 10 10 14--44

P'ville 11 7 10 6--34

Box Score: REB

FG 3PT FT O-D AST STL TP

Fuller 1-1 0-0 0-0 1-3 0 2 2

Largent 7-13 0-0 1-2 1-4 2 1 15

Embleton 0-2 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

JHoover 0-1 0-0 0-2 2-4 4 2 0

O'Brien 0-3 0-0 0-0 1-0 2 0 0

KyYoung 1-6 0-2 0-0 1-1 4 0 2

Carrick 6-8 0-1 1-2 5-4 1 1 13

Larsen 2-4 0-1 0-0 0-3 1 0 4

GHoover 0-6 0-5 0-0 2-2 0 6 0

KeYoung 3-6 0-0 2-2 3-5 2 2 8